Stay Informed

May 23, 2023 (Irvine, CA) –Walsworth is excited to announce that it has officially achieved Diversity Lab’s Midsize Mansfield Certification Plus status. The certification validates that in addition to the consideration and transparency requirements for Midsize Mansfield Certification, Walsworth has successfully achieved 30 percent diverse representation in current leadership roles and pipeline activities.

“We began this certification process in September 2021, and have worked diligently to ensure that we have continued to foster an environment characterized by transparency, clarity, authenticity, and diversity, in accordance with Diversity Lab’s stringent requirements,” said Dee Cohen Katz, Managing Partner. “Our results not only met these requirements, but exceeded them. As a result, we are a better firm with diverse representation at the highest levels, including in our Steering Committee, Compensation Committee, Promotions Committee, and Practice Group Leaders.”

The Midsize Mansfield Certification was launched in 2020 for firms with fewer than 150 attorneys. Following similar principles as Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Certification for larger firms, this certification measures whether midsize firms have considered at least 30 percent women lawyers, underrepresented racial and ethnic lawyers, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitches, lateral lawyer hiring, and more.

“Despite launching this change-management effort during a global pandemic among other marketplace disruptions, these firms were not deterred from tackling challenging talent systems changes to increase diversity in their firms and the profession,” said Alyssa Jarvis, Senior Manager of Mansfield at Diversity Lab, in a statement.

Women lawyers currently compose 83 percent of Walsworth’s equity partnership. In addition, underrepresented attorneys, including women and minorities, compose 79 percent of the firm’s governance committees and practice group leadership. In 2022, Walsworth was ranked second out of 58 firms with 100 or fewer attorneys in Law 360’s 2022 Glass Ceiling Report, a nationwide ranking based on female representation at all attorney levels, and Law360’s “The Ceiling Smashers,” which ranked firms with 100 or fewer attorneys based on the percentage of women in their equity partnerships. Walsworth is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The firm is also the largest California-based member of the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), and is an active member of the California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP).

“We are so proud of this achievement and every member of our firm who has embraced our core values and practices them each day,” said Soniya Khemlani, Partner and Chair of Walsworth’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. “Achieving Midsize Mansfield Plus Certification status is a testament to our commitment to diversity, professional development, and fairness. Diversity is one of our firm’s key strengths, and this certification is validation of our efforts and hard work to make Walsworth a firm that finds common ground in a shared set of core values and celebrates our differences.”

About Walsworth

Walsworth is a full-service law firm with more than 65 attorneys and offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Francisco. The firm was founded in 1989 based on a sincere commitment to work with our clients to use our experience, resources, and backgrounds to best serve their needs. Since our inception, we have been committed to recognizing and celebrating the multitude of cultures and experiences that enhance our personal and professional relationships. Our diverse and inclusive employee base – with its wide range of approaches and perspectives – allows us to offer necessary support to one another while providing innovative solutions and a competitive edge to our valued clients.  Walsworth is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The firm is also the largest California-based member of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), and is an active member of the California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP). To learn more, visit: www.wfbm.com.

For media inquiries contact:

Soniya D. Khemlani
Partner, Chair of DEI Committee
(714) 634-2522
skhemlani@wfbm.com